Kendall Harvey is a wife and mother of two in Austin, Texas. She has been navigating life with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) since her diagnosis in 2013 at the age of 25. She worked in marketing before “retiring” to be a stay-at-home-mom. She is an optimistic warrior fighting for a better future free of FA. Until that day comes, she aspires to inspire others with her column by detailing personal life lessons about grit and grace. Kendall shares a message of hope despite disability.So much of living with a progressive, lifelong disease like Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) is mentally processing and accepting the physical changes it brings. But with the widespread degeneration of my body and the…
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Scrolling through Instagram recently, I was left teary-eyed and introspective when I happened upon one particular reel. It features an oft-used voice-over of a sweet older woman talking, set to pictures and…
I have yet to find the secret to living a life where I wake up every morning rejuvenated, motivated, perfectly calibrated, and ready to tackle my day with gusto. I don’t think anyone has,…
When I was young and, frankly, naive, I had a lot of misconceptions about people with disabilities. I thought that the only people who used walkers were senior citizens or those recovering from leg…
As I approach the 10th anniversary of my Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) diagnosis, I’m struck by an explosion of complicated and contradictory feelings. In August 2013, when I learned that the poor balance,…
Summer is in full swing for my family. My daughter, Collins, 6, and my son, Brooks, 8, finished school the last week of May, and it’s been nonstop chaos ever since. With camps, trips,…
Living in a disabled body in a predominantly able-bodied world is a rare experience that, frankly, I never anticipated having. Especially in my 30s. But thanks to my progressing Friedreich’s ataxia symptoms, it’s…
Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with Skyclarys (omaveloxolone). Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. When I was diagnosed…
When I was diagnosed with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA), my greatest worry was how it would affect my future. What would living with a disability look like? What would FA add to my…
In my experience, much of what it takes to be a mother is the opposite of what’s required to live with a disability. As a mom, I constantly pour my all into my…
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